A 20-year-old woman from Dothan, Jakayla Ashanti Williams, who is charged with capital murder after investigators say she discarded her newborn in a dumpster, is seeking release on bond ahead of her trial.
Williams is scheduled to appear before Judge Henry Binford on Sept. 24 for a bond hearing, where her attorneys will argue for a $50,000 bond.
She remains in the Houston County Jail pending trial, which is currently set for March 2026, according to WDHN.
Defense Argues for Bond Despite Capital Charge
In Alabama, bond is rarely granted in capital murder cases, but Williams’ legal team contends she should be given the opportunity for pre-trial release. Her attorneys argue that she has no prior criminal history, does not pose a threat to the community, and is not a flight risk.
“For all purposes, the Defendant (Williams) had been a normal teenager attending and graduating high school….The Defendant does not have a violent history. The Defendant does not pose any harm or threat to the community at large and is not a flight risk,” her lawyer wrote in court filings.
Williams’ defense also noted that both the child’s father and her family members support her request for bond.
On social media, the public has slammed the woman and her legal team for what some describe as an ambitious request for bond.
“Girl go to h3ll. You had so many other choices rather than that!,” one person said.
Another person commented:
“Bond whatt? Bond yo self to those cold beds at night! F off.”
Case Background
Williams was first arrested in 2023, at the age of 18, after Dothan Police accused her of secretly giving birth at home before placing her baby in a dumpster.
Investigators said the child was later found deceased at the Dothan landfill, wrapped in a mattress protector and placed inside a duffel bag.
Authorities believe the newborn was alive when discarded. During a press conference at the time, Dothan Police Chief Will Benny said the case “shocks the mind; it shocks the soul.”
Police said Williams initially told relatives she had given birth at Southeast Health Medical Center, but hospital surveillance confirmed she never arrived. She later admitted to discarding her newborn, reportedly telling investigators she did not want to be a mother.
Possible Penalty and Legal Outlook
If convicted of capital murder, Williams could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty, though Houston County District Attorney Russ Goodman has not announced whether prosecutors will seek capital punishment.
The case has also drawn attention to Alabama’s Safe Haven laws, which allow parents to legally and safely surrender infants at hospitals and other designated facilities without fear of prosecution.
Judge Binford’s decision at the upcoming Sept. 24 bond hearing will determine whether Williams remains behind bars or is released under strict conditions before her trial.
The outcome will set the tone for one of the most closely watched criminal cases in Houston County in recent years.
